APPROACHES TO INSTRUCTION

  • The pedagogical methods used to teach this course will include lecture, discussion, small and large group work, journal articles, handouts, CourseDen technology, Wimba Cassroom applications, and when appropriate and available guest speakers. Because the class will be taught using a highly interactive approach, students are expected to be well prepared for each meeting, to have completed assigned readings, and to ask questions on any assigned material they do not understand.

  • Since graduate university students are respected as independent learners, Wimba Classroom lectures will be predominantly used to expand on topics presented in the textbook and for providing other relevant information specifically for incoming assignments. Students remain responsible for any assigned material not covered in class. Also, Wimba Classroom sessions will be archived for student access and reference.

  • Each major assignment contributes to the development of the next one. This form of scaffolding strategy ensures that students have the appropriate foundations in acquiring and retaining the appropriate knowledge and skills in order to meet the stated course objectives.

  • This course will be delivered approximately 100% online. This requires the online equivalent of 2,250 minutes of instruction (seat-time) and an additional 4,500 minutes of supporting activities. As such, students will be required to complete the following online activities during this course:

Activity


Instructional Equivalent

Participating in All Wimba Sessions


900 minutes (150 minutes X 6 sessions)

Posting in Online Discussion


180 minutes (30 minutes X 6 discussions)

Engaging in Online Discussion


270 minutes (45 minutes X 6 discussions)

Completing Assignment 1


120 minutes

Completing Assignment 2


120 minutes

Completing Assignment 3


150 minutes

Completing Assignment 4


360 minutes

Completing Assignment 5


90 minutes

Completing All Housekeeping Assignments


60 minutes

  • Additionally, it is anticipated that students will need to work independently for twice the number minutes listed above to complete the online activities.

  • Finally, students are expected to develop skills in managing multi-platform delivery applications. Given this, students will access the course site through Courseden specifically for Wimba Classroom, online discussions, and assessment including feedback on assignment completion. Most of the course content will be access through wikispaces.com except for specific resources under the “fair use” guidelines.